The door glass on my oven breaks or explodes
This is the worst-case scenario that runs through our mind when it comes to our oven: that it will explode! In reality, there's no real possibility that an oven will explode completely. When it does happen, fortunately in the vast majority of cases it is only one of the appliance's windows (internal or external) that breaks into pieces. In this article we will explain the various causes that can bring about this impressive event.
POTENTIAL CAUSES OF THIS FAULT:
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Manufacturing defect
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Failure to observe the operating instructions for the oven
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The glass has gradually weakened
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A chemical reaction relating to the use of a cleaning product
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A temperature control problem
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The temperature sensor is faulty
WARNING
Before carrying out any work on your appliance, be absolutely sure that you first completely disconnect it from the mains electricity supply.
Risk of electric shock.
Wear protective gloves if you need to disassemble the appliance.
Risk of cuts and abrasions.
Manufacturing defect
A manufacturing defect or a bump during the transportation of the oven can cause this phenomenon, whereby the oven glass explodes. For example, the glass used to make the window may have a defect relating to its specific processing. Likewise, the oven may have been subjected to microshocks during transport or handling. As a matter of fact, glass is a fragile material which, as a result of small, recurring shocks, can become distorted when it rises in temperature.In this case, it is usually during the 1st use of the pyrolysis function that the oven glass is liable to explode, although it can happen at a later stage. We recommend caution when using this oven cleaning function for the first time by keeping out of the room during the cycle. But then again, this happens very rarely.
Glass is a material that has a memory.This means that when it receives a bump, it will not necessarily react immediately: it will memorize the impact and is liable to break at a later stage, during standard use. The glass used for oven glass is referred to as tempered glass, i.e. it has undergone a specific rapid cooling treatment that will make it more resistant and, most importantly, prevent it from shattering into a thousand pieces: the pieces of glass remain joined together and fall as a single piece, without scattering. This is the system also used for car windscreens, to prevent broken glass from being thrown onto the passengers. The risk of injury is therefore very low, but not non-existent.
Failure to observe the operating instructions for the oven
Before using your oven, but especially before starting a pyrolysis cleaning program, it is essential that you read the instructions supplied with the device carefully, which will inform you as to the safety instructions to be observed. Among these recommendations, one of them may seem obvious: do not let the oven get too dirty between 2 pyrolytic cleaning cycles. In the same vein, it is preferable to remove larger pieces of cooking debris and then pre-clean the glass (ideally after each use). To do this, be sure to use very hot water with a little washing-up liquid and rub with a sponge. Above all, rinse well to avoid leaving cleaning product residue and wait until the inside of the oven is completely dry before starting the pyrolysis. Finally, it is imperative that you remove all the accessories (grilles / drip pan) and even the slides or rails located on the 2 side walls of the cavity before starting a pyrolysis programme.
During pyrolysis, the oven can rise to a temperature of 500°C, depending on the model. For this reason, the door will lock automatically. As the door is very hot, children should not be left alone near the oven.
Don't start a pyrolytic cycle with the oven cold! You will save energy by scheduling the cleaning of your oven for after cooking, while it is still hot: it will only improve the cleaning.
The glass has gradually weakened
This glass shattering phenomenon can also occur over time. This may be due to bad habits when using your oven. In fact, it is common, for convenience, to pull slightly on the grill to remove a dish and then push the grillor drip pan back in by closing the door against it. This action can generate a mini shock that, when repeated a certain number of times, can cause the glass to break or even explode during a pyrolytic cycle or during the conventional use of the oven.
To date, there have been no reports of people being seriously injured as a result of the explosion of a domestic oven window. In almost all cases, the glass will explode into the oven cavity, also known as the muffle. Made of tempered glass, it will shatter into 1,000 pieces: tiny debris, however, can cause injuries in the form of lacerations. In any case, it is still a rather traumatic experience on account of the noise generated by the explosion, which is sometimes compared to the sound of thunder...
With this in mind, it is better that you are not working in the kitchen when you have programmed a high temperature cleaning cycle.
The pyrolysis function is ventilated by an impeller, circulating superheated air throughout the entire oven cavity, or muffle,for a period of time that varies between 1 1/2 to 2 hours, depending on the model. This helps to carbonize any deposits. At the end of the program, the oven temperature will drop before the door is unlocked: do not force it before the indicator light or symbol switches off! Once completely cooled, a damp sponge can be wiped over the walls of the appliance to complete the cleaning process.
Purchase a new window for your oven
A chemical reaction relating to the use of a cleaning product
Pay attention when selecting products to clean an oven. Some products suggest that you heat the oven to make cleaning more efficient. This can cause a chemical phenomenon that can even cause the inner glass to shatter, or worse, to explode.Fortunately, this remains extremely rare.
A temperature control problem
If, during a pyrolytic cycle, your oven increases in temperature too rapidly and the the oven fails to switch into safety mode, this can result in a deformation of the glass and may cause it to explode. But we can agree, it's really bad luck!
Purchase a new thermostat for your oven
The temperature sensor is faulty
Temperature sensors can only be found in electric ovens: they will inform the circuit board that the temperature has been reached (or that it has not). If the temperature sensor is defective, it can send inconsistent electrical signals to the main circuit board, and therefore to the various other components in the oven. This can result in the generation of excessive heat. You can check the condition of the sensor with a multimeter set to the Ohmmeter position (more details regarding temperature sensor testing can be found in our article below).